Reflection On Leadership Skills

Throughout this course, our textbook readings, the posting to threaded discussions, my responses to a classmate’s post, and reading various classmates’ responses helped further digest, comprehend, and synthesize the leadership content within Daft’s “The Leadership Experience” textbook. Our weekly lectures with various classmates’ interpretations and responses during the open discussion forums about the textbook themes brought a variety of unique viewpoints to the specific leadership topics. This reflection paper was an extension of this learning, and provided a deep introspection about leadership concepts; how did I, how am I, and how can I apply this knowledge in my workplace. This writing exercise uncovered new meaning and insights while both challenging and supporting certain personal views and ideas about leadership.

What are some of the personal dynamics in my life that impact my leadership style? I believe that it all starts with me and how I raise my children. As a parent, you are called to be a leader. We teach our children to be honest, respectful and, do their best at whatever they set out to accomplish. We do this in hopes that when the time comes for them to leave home, they will have a firm understanding of what it takes to be a good person. The similarities in parenting roll into my leadership at work. As a leader, we apply the same principles that we are teaching our children to our constituents, in hopes that they aspire to grow in their professional lives.

In my view leadership is one’s ability to make a positive impact based on the needs of many. As a leader, I consider myself to be energetic, team orientated, encouraging, and a hands-on leader that focuses on the developmental of all my staff and individuals around me. Over the week, I have been instructed to complete three assessments: Strengthsfinder 2.0., DISC, and Jung Typology Personality to provide insight on my leadership style. From these assessments, I have learned a greater understanding of my leadership style. I will be reflecting on the results and comparing patterns across the three assessments.

When I began this course I was very nervous because I had no idea of the scope of the course. I was unfamiliar with the Canadian education system and other students. After receiving instructions from my professor, I introduced myself to the person beside me and this process helped to break the ice. I developed a good friendship with the student and this technique used by the professor helped me develop better communication and relationship skills. After few classes, I felt very comfortable and the nervousness and anxiety faded away. I learned about leadership, power relationships in the profession, personal, cultural, professional and organizational, each of which is very important in the nurse’s career. I also gained knowledge regarding client centred care.

“Leadership is the ability to maximize the activities of team members by ensuring that team actions are understood, changes in information are shared, and team members have the necessary resources (>>>>)”. A team leader has the ability to form a team, distribute responsibilities and establish well-defined goals. It is up to the leader to make sure all members within the team understand and agree to the goals and responsibility, have an adequate staff and resources to implement. The leader is skillful at conflict resolution and is ready for any foreseeable problems that may arise. In problem solving a leader maintains aware of the situation at all times while anticipating a sequel of events to improve the outcomes. A important duty of a leader is to promote and facilitate good teamwork. The overall roles of leadership is to asses the necessities of the organization and determine the appropriate interventions accordingly to enhance patient

In his textbook, Northouse discussed on the Skills Approach, that leadership is based on three skills which are technical skill that focuses on competence on working with things, human skill that emphasizes on working with people, and conceptual skill that concentrates more on working with ideas. The skills approach suggests that knowledge, abilities and skills are needed for leaders to be effective.

A good leader cannot manage without having good management skill. A manager function is to produce order and consistency through planning, budgeting, organizing, and problem solving. Good relationships are based on trust, communication, and engagement are the essentials of a manager to build a relationship with your staff members. Task can be completed on time with enthusiasm, effectively, and with energy to do more. They focus on clients and know how to improve business performance. Are good at risk management and manage stress in staff members. A manager needs to be a clear thinker and have effective speaking skills that can influence others. As a nursed manager you may spend time giving care or watching over others as the give care. Nurses

Situational approach is either applying supportive or directive behaviors to specific situations. Every situation is unique which is why different methods should be applied accordingly, depending on the dynamics of the situation. To determine what behaviors are needed, a leader must analyze his or her followers’ commitment and competence.

I am committed to continuous learning and have a strong desire to inspire others to action through exceptional leadership and a clear vision that promotes the delivery of superior services, both internally and externally. The Behavioral Health Division will benefit by receiving the highest level of competence and ethical practice along with a personal commitment to quality. I embrace challenges and will initiate and support any necessary changes within the organization. This program will further promote my creativity and innovation, which will enhance the work environment and the delivery of services to the public. My leadership style is a combination of charismatic and innovative. I am extremely energetic and motivate others to move forward

During Phase I of the course, leaders are trained on common core skills and leader development, with emphasis on Army Writing leadership, physical fitness, property accountability, NCOER's equal opportunity, train the force, and risk management. As the course progresses, it focuses on training skill level 3 enlisted personnel to supervise shop operations and diagnose wheeled vehicles and material handling equipment. In addition, this course centered on senior wheeled vehicle mechanic and maintenance supervisor skills and duty positions. Training focused on enhanced skills in leadership, communication and logistics management, practical and classroom exercises, discussions, presentations and lectures. Topics include Ordnance history, stress

In your own words, tell us about the effort that you have been nominated for.

The best example of me being a leader is the fact that I have worked in a specific class that has helped me develop leadership skills: Yearbook. In Yearbook, I learned how to direct a staff of students to work on specific jobs that would eventually lead to the development of the Yearbook. During this class, it was my job to properly organize the responsibilities of upperclassmen, assign them specific events to cover, and even place the example of how some of the jobs were done.

Last semester I took the Leadership Skills Workshop class (LD 225) here at Blackburn. Dr. Wiedlocher was the professor for this class. She decided that the class was going to be based around helping the community here in Carlinville. We decided to help the Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled, MCDD, here in Macoupin County. We decided to put together two fundraisers for us to reach our goal of purchasing floor scooters for the students at MCDD.

As an educational leader, I have encountered several new and existing school policies. I never thought deeply about the various processes and the stakeholders involved in policy formulation and implementation. This semester I am engaged in the course Managing Educational Policy as School Leaders (EDLM 6005). This is Semester III, 2016/2017. My course coordinator is Dr. Timar Stephenson. Dr Stephenson was my course coordinator once before and was very helpful whenever I needed clarification or when I had a difficulty. I am thrilled to embrace the new ideas and learning opportunities embedded in this course since it teaches issues which I experience at work. Dr Stephenson, during his introduction reminded his entire class that success in this course would only be realized through hard work, dedication, and commitment. Therefore, it is imperative that I have the right attitude as I navigate this course. The course involves seven weeks of intense work. I am pleased to have a wonderful group facilitator by the name of Rhonda Joseph who has already given us a BBC to explain the requirements of the course and our first two modules.

Due to my passive nature, I’ve always avoided leadership roles. With that being said I still aspire to be someone who can be looked to as a leader. In order to reach that goal I observe and try to mimic the actions of people that inspire me. There have been many people I’ve taken orders from, but I have “followed” few. Those are the ones I consider to be true leaders, and have tried to be like myself.